Police gather at a crime scene along Century Blvd. near LAX where an attempted robbery of a medical marijuana (Nature's Cure Inc.) dispensary erupted in gunfire. A wounded suspect fled and was found dead in a parking area of the Westin Hotel nearby, shown, where LAPD personnel gathered. June 25, 2014. (Brad Graverson / Staff Photographer)

Crime scene along Century Blvd. near LAX where an attempted robbery of a medical marijuana dispensary erupted in gunfire. Wounded suspect fled and was found dead behind the Westin Hotel nearby. June 25, 2014. (Brad Graverson / Staff Photographer)

Westchester >> An armed robber was killed in an exchange of gunfire with a security guard Wednesday during a botched holdup at a marijuana dispensary near the Westin Hotel outside Los Angeles International Airport, police said.

A second suspect escaped during the midday robbery attempt, prompting a temporary shutdown of Century Boulevard, the main artery into LAX. He remains at large.

The shooting erupted at 12:18 a.m. at Nature’s Cure Inc., 5300 W. Century Blvd., after the two suspects entered the business just east of the Westin Hotel, Los Angeles police Officer Liliana Preciado said.

In the exchange of gunfire with the dispensary security guard, one of the suspects was shot in the abdomen and died at the scene near Concourse Way and Century Boulevard, Preciado said. His name has not been disclosed.

The security guard was unhurt, but a second person, a female who has not been identified, fell and sustained a head injury during the commotion, she said.

The suspect who escaped is described as a male black wearing a brown baseball cap, beige shirt and dark green or blue pants, Preciado said. He was driving a black BMW 7 series automobile, year unknown, she said.

Century Boulevard between La Cienega Boulevard and Concourse was temporarily closed after the shooting, but was reopened at around 2:30 p.m.